// Archives

Alternative Ways to Find Postgraduate Funding

By Naomi Imms, Information Officer So, you’ve decided you want to do a masters or PhD? It’s an exciting prospect, whether you’re doing it to enhance your job prospects, kick-start an academic career, or for pure love of the subject. But have you worked out how to fund it? Perhaps you’re planning to get a …

My PhD Career Path: A Winding Road

By Clare Jones, Senior Careers Adviser, Research Staff/Postgraduate Research Students As a PhD student you may be considering your next step and looking for that ‘forever’ career. In the 21st century, you’re likely to have four or five jobs in your working life – if not more! Elizabeth Davey talks us through her career history …

Finding the Perfect PhD Supervisor

Natalie Thorne, MSc Psychology Research Methods After the panic of leaving my job to start a masters subsided, I was ready to face the first big hurdle when it comes to doing a PhD: finding a supervisor. It’s sort of an academic dating game. And just like dating, my process started by looking at profiles online. Sadly …

How to Start Your Career in Science Communications

What happened when six representatives from industries ranging from space exploration and experiments to ship investigations in Antarctica came together to share their personal experiences and top tips? Having been warned the enticing cupcakes were for after the talks – I tried to sneak one to no avail – I took a seat just in time …

Dealing With a PhD Panic!

Natalie Thorne, MSc Psychology Research Methods I knew that doing a masters would feel very different to being an undergrad, but what I didn’t expect was for it to feel so very real so quickly. I guess I am one of those people who put their ‘life savings’ into doing something different with their life. …

Naturejobs Expo London: What Is It and How to Make the Most of Your Day

by Clare Jones, Senior Careers Adviser to Research Staff and PhD Students For the last three years I’ve been one of the team of CV checkers at the London Naturejobs Expo and have experienced first hand this busy recruitment and careers event targeted at PhD and postdoctoral scientists – although masters and undergraduate students are also …

Five Employability Benefits of a Masters Degree

By Chris Jones, Senior Careers Adviser Could your postgraduate degree be worth £200,000?  While some jobs require a specific postgraduate qualification, there are many others where this won’t be specified as an application requirement. However there are still a number of reasons why a postgraduate qualification such as a masters degree could be of particular interest …

The Graduate Jobs Fair – it’s for PhDs too!

By Clare Jones, Senior Careers Adviser (Research Staff and PhDs) Discover what a career outside academia has to offer and how your specialist knowledge and skills can be applied in a range of areas. Whether you are at the beginning, or nearing the end of your PhD, visiting the Graduate Jobs Fair is an opportunity for …

How to Apply for an Academic Job in China and Be Successful

By Dr Wan (Victoria) Hu; MA Chinese/English Translation and Interpreting, and PhD Translation Studies at The University of Nottingham. Dr Hu is now a lecturer in Translation and Interpreting Studies at the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing. The number of Chinese students in the UK is increasing, and if you are a PhD …

How I Got Onto a PhD Programme

By Jordan Thorpe, PhD Medicine Getting a PhD position is a mentally challenging and highly competitive process. For many students it’s the ticket to their dream career, be it in academia or industry. After completing a BSc Biochemistry, I submitted a series of PhD applications that were rejected. I decided I needed to do something more to …